Issues

Issue 15.4

Writing an editorial at the end of a year allows a reflection on the previous 12 months, and internationally, the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has been a key development.

The prevalence of psychological distress among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is substantially higher than that of the general population, with PLWHIV twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression. The National HIV Nurses Association (NHIVNA) undertook an audit to assess whether standards for psychological support are being implemented in clinical practice. The intention was also to highlight gaps in service provision and identify training needs.

HIV-associated stigma and discrimination affect the quality of people’s lives and their ability to access care and support. They can also inhibit people diagnosed with HIV from disclosing their status to others

'The doctor, instead of conducting a normal consultation, began to give me moral advice.' he number of adolescents and young people today is at an all-time high. There are more than 1.8 billion young people in the world, 90% of whom live in developing countries, where they tend to make up a large proportion of the population. Vital information on sexuality, HIV transmission and legal protection is already difficult to access as a young person. As a young person whose sexuality, work or HIV status has been criminalised or shamed, that access can be removed completely.

In the initial period of the HIV response, ageing with HIV was not a priority issue – in the absence of treatment, few people living with HIV could expect to reach an older age, and older people were not recognised as at risk of acquiring HIV. Since effective antiretroviral treatment has become available, this picture has changed, and HIV has become a long-term condition manageable with treatment